Home Sweet Home Again

I thought I would never say that I liked home better than vacations but after another 10 days away, this time in Alberta,  its great to be home.  I do enjoy visiting family and friends but the weather in Alberta sucks.  Yes the economy is thriving and many young folk go there for jobs and being able to make a good salary is a factor that can make life easier and therefore better. After all,that was our life choice during our productive working years. But I think Albertans buy more stuff, more toys and possessions to compensate for the lousy weather.

Here's Calgary during one of the few sunny breaks last week    

And here is a view

of the highway east of Edmonton

K and I had a pleasant drive back through the Roger's Pass.  The sun brightly shone on fresh snow up on the mountains but the roads were bare and dry.  There was little traffic and no construction.  We stopped lunch in Revelstoke where we saw our first spring flowers:

When we got to Vernon,  we went for a walk up Bella Vista Road, then crossed the hill west of our house.  We could see Okanagan Lake and look back towards Vernon and Silver Star, still white with snow.  The Balsam  Arrowroot are in bloom all over the hills:

It is good to be home, I plan to stay put for a while!

    

Home Sweet Home

We have returned from a terrific three week trip to Mexico, flying direct from the  Kelowna  airport to Cancun from where we toured the Yucatan for two weeks and then flopped at an all-inclusive for five days of self indulgence and gluttony.
We were actually really excited to come home.  Sitting in our hot tub our first morning back in Vernon, we could hear the chatter of birds, smell the freshness of the damp soil where iris and tulips have pushed their new green leaves up to catch the spring sun, soon to bloom, joining the yellow glory of the forsythia and sturdy pink spikes of hyacinth. and the vibrant coloured primulas.Ah the joy of early spring, a joy not experienced on the prairies where a few warm days in March and April might tease you between snow storms but real spring does not settle in until late May.

Early spring flowers in my garden

Yesterday we hiked up to John's Jump in Kalamalka Provincial Park, through the forest of Ponderosa Pines and new green grass to the rocky outcrop where we looked down upon a still Kalamalka Lake, circled by hills showing a hint of green with snowy Terrance Mountain standing in the distance.

 Early spring in Kalamalka Provincial Park

 The Balsam Arrow Root whose bright yellow daisy-like flowers cover the hills from April until June were starting to bloom.

Balsam Arrow Root early blooms overlooking Kalamalka Lake

Today it is raining here in Vernon but that means fresh snow up at Silver Star, more fresh snow to add to the 10 cms received last night, bringing the cumulative snow fall of the season to 30 cm from the usual 700 cms expected each year.
Tomorrow is the last day Silver Star is open for skiing, although Sovereign Lake will close for a couple weeks so ski teams can take advantage of late season training and then be open until the end of May for cross country skiing.  As a celebration for their season pass holders, Silver Star hosts a free barbecue.  We look forward to chowing down a burger, having the last "flat white" for the season and maybe going for one last ski.  We have to leave early though as the VOC (Vernon Outdoor Club) is having a social at a local restaurant.  Hiking and biking started this last week.  Ah, it's great to be home!

Skiers line up for free burgers on last day of season at Silver Star Mountain Resort April 7, 2013

Making Tracks

Another week has passed in the North Okanagan, another week of making tracks in the snow up at Silver Star and watching for signs of spring down in the valley.

On Monday we headed up the mountain under cloudy skies.  We rose up through the lower mist that so commonly shrouds the valley and ended up sandwiched between two layers of cloud.  The higher downhill runs will enveloped in cloud but the lower runs were clear and covered with fresh light powder.  We opted to cross country ski  and had the lower trails to ourselves! The only sounds were the swooshing of our skis, our laboured breathing and the occasional noisy crow announcing our presence in among the tall fir and tamarack that were burdened down with the new snow. 

Making tracks in the woods Feb 25

 We had not heard crows before and think they may be a sign that spring up on the mountain is not far away.

 Except for a lone snowshoe hare that we saw on the trail a couple of week ago, we have rarely seen any sign of life on the cross country trails, except for the occasional skiers.

  

A real ski bunny 

When we returned to our house in Vernon, we were greeted by a true sign of spring: a street cleaner brushing away the grit and grime accumulated with the winter snows.  We were quite surprised.  When we lived in Alberta, we did not see a street cleaner until well into April.

The street cleaner, a sure sign or spring Feb 25

When we again ventured up the mountain on Thursday the downhill runs were well groomed.  It was the kind of conditions that made you feel like you are a great skier.  By Friday the temperature had jumped up above freezing, and the snow became wet and heavy.  But the temperature has dropped back down to minus 5 degrees and snow is falling again, but only up on the mountain.  So we are looking forward to making tracks again tomorrow!

Meeting Down Under Up on Top

I was chatting with Teri,  who works at the Eatery in the Town Hall at Silver Star Village, when I came off the slopes for my "flat white". Her Aussie accent blends in with the rest of the Australians working on the mountain.  " I reckon over 80% of the employees are Australian" she tells me.  But there are less down-under accents now that January has ended. 

The longest annual school leave in Australia occurs from just before Christmas until the end of January and a significant number of skiers at Silver Star are Australian families with many of them staying on the mountain for several weeks.  The connection between the mountain and Australia runs deep.  The owner of the resort is Australian.  The resort was purchased by Desmond Robert Schumann and family in 2001. They  also had purchased Big White Ski Resort in 1985 and owned both properties until last year. With the death of Mr Schumann, Silver Star is now separately owned and operated by his daughter Jane Cann. The two ski resorts had shared marketing and some aspects of operation but are now functioning  independently.

Silver Star launched a new marketing campaign this year: 'One Pass-Endless Fun', becoming the first resort in Canada to offer an all-inclusive day or season pass.  This means, for the same price as last year's downhill ski pass, I can downhill  ski, cross-country ski, snowshoe, skate or use the tube park at no extra cost.  This has proven to be a great deal for us.  I have done more cross country skiing this year than ever before but have still gotten in a decent amount of downhill skiing.  When conditions are cloudy or foggy, we tend to cross country; but if there is new snow or sunshine I usually downhill.   And we can make up our mind when we get up to the mountain.  J cross country skis most days.  If I chose to downhill, we can still meet up somewhere on the mountain for coffee or lunch.

World's Biggest Snowball at Silver Star, home of Canada's only all inclusive pass

Most days we end up having our coffee at the Eatery, in Town Hall, which is owned by the mountain.  As season pass holders, we get discounts on food and beverage.  So for $3.25 (less 15%) I order my favourite coffee beverage, a "flat white".

I first experienced this type of coffee in Australia in 2006.  I have never been a coffee connoisseur, actually I never really enjoyed coffee but with that first flat white at Circular Quay in Sydney, my relationship with coffee was transformed.  I went from using the caffeinated beverage as a media for ingesting cream and sugar to lusting after that smooth rich mixture of medium roasted beans and just the right amount of micro-foamed milk.  On our return to Canada, I could never find that same exquisite flavour and texture.  A latte or cappuccino just did not make the mark.

So this year when we walked into the Eatery, a cafeteria-style fast food joint, I was surprised and thrilled to discover "flat white"on their new cafe menu.  Teri, who is from Perth and an experienced Australian barista puts together a very decent flat white as does at least one of her co-workers.  I have noticed a difference in quality depending on who is behind the counter.  After reading the attached website, I understand how special my favourite beverage is:    www.coffeehunter.org/what-is-a-flat-white

a decent flat white at the Eatery

We have had many good days of skiing recently but down in town, the days are getting longer and warmer and sunnier.  I love my days up on the mountain but it is often a pleasure to stay down in the valley.  J has started some early year work.  And today I discovered the first flowers blooming in the garden.  

First blooms of spring Feb 17th

I find it absolutely incredible to be enjoying winter and spring at the same time.  Life is good!

January 26:  Is It Spring or Still Winter?

The rest of Canada has experienced a deep freeze over the last week, except the southwest corner of BC, including the Okanagan Valley.  Our weather has been quite mild here in the valley and although we have had snow, it melts off the roads in a day or two.
 I have been watching a robin who perches on the top of the pine tree outside my window.  At first, not believing that a robin would be in Vernon in mid January, I thumbed through my bird books looking for some sort of orange breasted bird that might be here in the winter; maybe some sort of wood pecker or another kind of thrush.  But when I got a good look at him, well ,it was obvious he  was a robin!  I am not sure if this is a sign of spring or a family of migratory birds who have chosen to stay put for the winter,  hearty souls that have resisted being "snow birds" just like us!

Robin in my yard January 2013

Like most communities in Canada, Vernon has its share of "snow birds". Being a very popular home for retirees, a significant part of Vernon's population is Albertans, and other flat landers who relocate here to enjoy the predictable hot summers and agreeable spring and autumn weather.  

Winter here is quite mild, average temperatures vary from just above freezing to just below freezing.  However those mild temperatures are often a result of a weather phenomena known as "the inversion", well described in a publication called "The Weather of British Columbia" http://www.navcanada.ca/contentdefinitionfiles/publications/lak/bc/3-bc31e.pdf

 "Mountain valleys allow cold air to pool, creating 

inversions. Most of the valleys have rivers       and lakes that seldom freeze up resulting in 

abundant moisture that the inversion can trap, supporting the development of low 

“valley cloud”. On the positive side, because of its location, only the strongest incursions of arctic air can force its way into this area. This being said, the temperatures in 

the area do tend to hover around freezing, and the cold surface layer can be difficult 

to remove, as the warm air moving in from the coast rides over the top of the cold air. 

The only real warming occurs with southerly winds, but this respite only lasts a few 

days as cold air is quick to re-establish itself in the valley bottoms."

This is our second winter here and we love the weather because it is mild and there are so many opportunities for winter recreation!  We have difficulty understanding why  others flee south in search of sunshine when you can simply take a 30 minute drive up to Sovereign Lake Nordic Ski area or Silver Star Mountain Resort.  You will drive through the cloud and into sunshine!  And you do not need to ski to enjoy the sunshine.  Besides cross country skiing (there are 105 km of groomed runs between the two recreation areas), or downhill skiing, or snowshoeing, or skating on an outdoor rink or walking the trails,  there are cafes, restaurants, pubs, and shops to 

browse in, and an art gallery to visit (www.galleryodin.com/), a spa, and even a bowling alley.  Check out the Silver Star Mountain Resort website (http://winter.skisilverstar.com/my-activites-events)

On Silver Star Mountain looking down at a sea of cloud in the valley

Skiing down run at Silver Star  Mountain  above the cloud

By late February inversions will be rare.  Typically there will be more snow (the annual snow fall is about 700 cm).  It tends to be what the local ski hounds call "Champagne powder", very dry and feather soft.  March will likely be sunny spring skiing but the crowds will be tapering off as skiers will be putting the skis away and taking out golf clubs, kayaks, bikes, hiking boots and garden trowels.  But we intend to follow the example of the robins in our yard, enjoying the mild winter weather and all that it offers until well into spring season!   

Putting the first word down on this blog is a big deal for me.  I have thought about creating my own blog for some time and had even started yapping about it to others, which is a pretty sure way I get myself nudged into action.
Some people in my life who I am very fond of and who I respect for their determination to get things done in their lives, write blogs.  Specifically, I am referring to my sister in law who is compulsively creative (whenyouloveblue.blogspot.com); my niece who lives a life of adventure and exploration (kmfreelance.blogspot.ca or aberranteverydaytea.blogspot.ca) and my good friend who has moved herself onward by literally transporting herself to a new life in Vernon (thewestcommences.blogspot.ca)

After some thought (and much procrastination) I settled on the title of my blog: When you LOVE where you LIVE.
Those of you who know me are aware that I moved to Vernon about 18 months ago. I love this place and still cannot believe my good fortune to actually be living here.  I am in that enviable stage of life, "early retirement", with good health, time and a degree of financial security (pension, investments and kids that have been launched).  We could choose where to live. We wanted a four season climate in Canada. good outdoors recreation, a small to medium sized community with plenty of arts and culture and access to an international airport.
Vernon is nestled in between  Okanagan and Spalmacheen Valleys.  From its perch you can see  Okanagan Lake, beautiful Kalamalka Lake and Swan Lake.  The surrounding hills are dotted with thirsty Ponderosa Pines, evidence of the hot and arid summer climate.  To the east, beyond the orchards and hay fields of the Coldstrem Valley, are the magnificent snow capped Monashees  and just northeast of town, a 30 minute drive from our home on the west side of Vernon, is Silver Star Mountain.  It is the home of Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre, known for superb cross country skiing, and Silver Star Mountain Resort, a village with funky coloured homes and condos, shops, pubs and restaurants clustered around  multiple chair lifts, and surrounded by downhill ski runs, and Nordic and snowshoe trails that double as bike and hiking trails in the summer.  Nordic skiing starts by mid November and downhill kicks in by late November.  We have over a 200cm base at present and are getting regular dumps of what we call "champagne" powder, very dry and light.

Tracks at Silver Star January 12

And an easy 35 minute drive south of Vernon, along Kalamlka and Wood  Lakes, past scenery that is so captivating you risk taking your eyes off the road, brings you the Kelowna Airport.  From here there are direct flights for us to visit family in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.  (And this year we are flying directly to Cancun for a vacation).
The heart of Vernon is its historic downtown, several blocks of shops and businesses, with sidewalks that fill with summer tourists and locals who loiter in outdoor cafes and eateries, enjoying buskers and outdoor concerts. Twenty-seven walls of downtown buildings, some on main  streets, some in alleyways are painted with bold and playful historical scenes.
In the winter the streets twinkle with light-adorned trees, adding an extra festive touch to the annual Winter Carnival.
Shopping is abundant in town but for those who need excessive retail therapy, it is a 50 minute trip to the traffic-choked strip malls of Kelowna
Okay I've had my rant.  And no, I am not a paid employee of tourism Vernon.  I just love this place.

Top of Comet Run in full sun

I'm enjoying a day of hibernating but here are some pictures of skiing at Silver Star yesterday.  Usually the temperature sits around -10 to -5. Yesterday was cold, about -18 in the early morning.  There was sun but a cloud kept drifting around the top.  The snow was great but the toes got cool.

Cold  and Crisp at top of Aspen Meadows

Sun Dog on the South Bowl